Eagle Scout project links trails

Saturday

Apr 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Troop 28 Scout Master Rob Hillman, Robbie's father, explained that this project is fulfilling a goal of the CCT to encourage public use of conservation land.“We're hoping by the end of this year, there'll be a complete trail system all the way through the property,” said Hillman.

Staff Reporter

In 2012, an Eagle Scout from Cohasset’s Boy Scout Troop 28 became a literal trailblazer. Robbie Hillman, then a 16-year-old junior at BC High, built a trail system and boardwalk in the George Ingram Park on Beechwood Street, a property owned by the Cohasset Conservation Trust.

Hillman’s work earned him the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest a Boy Scout can achieve (in order to attain Eagle, a scout must have earned 21 merit badges and completed a service project that shows leadership skills and benefits a local community non-profit). The project also paved the way for future projects in the park, creating a system of boardwalks and trails.

Eagle Scout Adam Benson picked up where Hillman left off, clearing a path beyond Hillman’s trail that could soon connect to the trail of another Eagle Scout — Kevin Mack, if another scout takes on that task.

Benson, a 17-year-old Cohasset High junior, also created a kiosk for the park, which is located at its entrance across the street from Heritage Lane (his older brother, Derek, is also an Eagle Scout).

A stone wall marks the start of Benson’s trail, which begins where Hillman’s boardwalk ends, continuing in a loop around the property.

Benson agreed to take on the project at the request of Gary Vanderweil of the CCT.

“They were interested in opening up this public land to everyone and building these trails,” said Benson, to create an “open ended” walkway.

Troop 28 Scout Master Rob Hillman, Robbie’s father, explained that this project is fulfilling a goal of the CCT to encourage public use of conservation land.

“It’s something we’re really excited about,” Hillman said, adding that having several scouts contribute to the park project is “like having a civilian conservation core.”

“We’re hoping by the end of this year, there’ll be a complete trail system all the way through the property,” said Hillman.

Clearing a path

Benson’s project was completed in November 2013 over five to six Saturday mornings for a total of 122.5 service hours. He enlisted help from 27 volunteers who assisted in the clearing and cutting of the trail as well as building and installing the kiosk.

Benson said that a team effort was the way to go.

“We divided it up and worked on different portions; it’s the best way to get things done.”

In addition to brush clearing, Benson said that he and his helpers also dealt with fallen trees.

“It used to be an old logging trail,” the scout said of the area. “There were stretches of the trail that were really difficult while others just had to be raked.”

The project helped him hone his leadership skills, Benson said.

“It teaches you responsibility when you’re the sole person in charge. You have to not only make the plan, but execute the plan.”

The scout also learned how to tackle obstacles, literally and figuratively.

“When you come across the tree stump in your trail, you have to decide what to do,” he said.

While Benson said that he doesn’t yet know where he would like to attend college or what he’d like to study after high school, he learned a lot from his project in terms of documenting a process, keeping track of receipts and purchases, fundraising and pitching to the Cohasset Rotary for sponsorship.

The project cost a total of $204.25, $200 of which Benson fundraised.

The best part of the venture is that the scout gets to view his own handiwork.

“It was definitely a fun project,” Benson, who officially became an Eagle Scout in January, said. “I get to personally enjoy it myself.

“It’s a timeless thing,” he said of the trail. “It will always be here.”

Hillman is proud of what Benson, his son, and future Eagle Scouts have and will continue to accomplish on the site.

“The CCT acquired the land, but the boys’ projects have made it really accessible to the public,” Hillman said.

Eagles soaring out of Troop 28

Cohasset’s Boy Scout Troop 28 currently has more than 50 scouts. Eagle Scout Adam Benson, 17, who joined as a sixth grader, recalled that the troop was much smaller then.

“When I joined the troop, there were less than 20 kids; now there are upwards of 50,” said Benson. “It’s really grown.”

Scout Master Robert Hillman said that among last year’s graduating seniors, seven were Eagle Scouts; this year there are three.

In general, Cohasset’s troop tends to turn out a lot of Eagle Scouts, but the scoutmaster said that the decision to become an Eagle is up to each individual.

“We don’t make Eagle Scouts,” Hillman explained. “We provide the support and the opportunity for them to achieve it, but they do all the work.”

Nationally, only five percent of boys who join the scouts end up earning the Eagle rank. Hillman said that he’s not sure why Cohasset tends to have so many.

“It’s hard to say why Troop 28 has had such a high rate of scouts achieving that rank for the past few years,” he said. “I expect that scouts who join our troop have fun with the camping, canoeing and general outdoor program and realize that they enjoy doing the things that lead to rank advancement.”

Hillman said he’s noticed over the years that Cohasset Boy Scouts are hard workers.

“Our scouts set high standards for themselves and generally provide a lot of support for one another in getting to Eagle rank,” he said, adding that parents and volunteers help.

“We are lucky to have an excellent group of adult volunteers who help provide our scouts with the opportunity to earn merit badges, help with camping trips and allow our scouts to participate in national events such as the National Jamboree and high adventure camps such as the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.”